See also:
25 Best Places to Retire in Florida
Ultimate List of 55+ Communities in Florida
Like many southwest Florida communities, Naples brings together the best of shopping, recreation, and beautiful white sand beaches. But residents here would definitely argue that Naples offers the best versions of all three.
Historic downtown Naples is filled with with high-end shoppes and boutiques. The surrounding areas are littered with championship level golf courses. And this location along the southern Gulf Coast of Florida boasts some of the most stunning beaches you will find anywhere.
It’s actually difficult to find anything about Naples that isn’t absolutely perfect. And the fishing is pretty great too!
Where is Naples?
Naples is located just under an hour straight south of Fort Myers, and about half an hour north of Marco Island. This makes Naples the southernmost metropolitan area along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
There is a small municipal airport located right in Naples, but the closest major airport is located about 30 miles north in Fort Myers. As for local highways, US-41 runs right through the heart of town and I-75 is the closest Interstate.
With Fort Myers and Everglades National Park both so close to Naples, residents have the option of heading north to access the rest of Florida or east to venture into the relaxing wilderness of the Everglades.
History of Naples
Naples was founded by a US Senator named John Stuart Williams and a newspaper owner from Louisville named Walter Halderman in the 1880s.
Many people referred to the area as Naples because of it’s similarities to the city of Naples in Italy, which is known for its waterfront location and mild climate. The name stuck and after World War II the city really began to grow quickly.
Demographics in Naples
According to the 2010 census, the popular of Naples is 19,537. Current estimates put that number just over 20,000.
Of that population, 30% fall between the ages of 45 and 64 and 42.3% are over the age of 65. With 72.3% of the population over the age of 45, it’s quite obvious that retirement communities are a way of life here.
The median income for this area falls between $70,000 and $100,000, and only a very small percentage of the population lives below the poverty line.
Climate in Naples
Being the southernmost Gulf Coast retirement destination, Naples residents enjoy a moderate climate that is a few degrees warmer than its northern counterparts for most of the year.
Residents can expect to see average daily highs in the low 90s during the summer months and in the high 70s during the winter months. Even in the winter months, the average low never falls below the low 50s.
Naples Resources
As you begin to explore all of the possibilities that exist in and around Naples, here are some of the best local resources available to help you discover everything this great area has to offer:
• City of Naples
• Naples-Florida.com
• Pure Naples
• Naples Daily News
• VisitFlorida.com: Naples
• TripAdvisor: Naples
• The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce
• Florida’s Paradise Coast
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